The sea breeze before dawn carried a bitter chill. Tang Yu stood on the lookout platform, watching the eastern sky grow pale. A whole night on watch had left his eyes sore, but Katsuragi Kohei of Class A had acted so strangely that Tang Yu didn't dare let his guard down for a moment.
"Time to switch shifts." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's voice came from below. He had woken up at some point, and his gray eyes looked especially detached in the morning light.
Tang Yu climbed down from the lookout platform and rolled his stiff shoulders. "Katsuragi watched us from the woods to the northeast for two hours."
"Just as expected." Ayanokoji handed Tang Yu a cup of hot water. "Class A is used to gathering complete intelligence before acting."
The hot water slid down Tang Yu's throat, bringing a trace of warmth. He looked at the camp, which was beginning to stir. "We have to take the mission point at Central Hill today."
"Ryuen will think the same," Ayanokoji reminded him.
"That's why we have to be quick." Tang Yu set down his cup. "I'll take a team. You stay at camp and guard against a sneak attack."
Ayanokoji didn't answer at once. He gazed at the distant horizon, where dark clouds were gathering. "The weather's about to turn."
Tang Yu followed his gaze and furrowed his brow. Bad weather would make surviving on the deserted island much harder. They had to complete the mission before it hit.
An hour later, the team Tang Yu led was already heading toward the center of the island. It included Horikita Suzune, Ken Sudō, and three other boys who were in good shape. Each of them carried basic gear on their backs-rope, canteens, and food wrapped in banana leaves.
"Why aren't we bringing more people?" Sudō asked, puzzled, as they walked. "What if we run into those bastards from Class C..."
"More people means slower movement," Horikita explained calmly. "Besides, the camp needs people to defend it."
Tang Yu led the way, his ears picking up every sound in the forest. His Emotion Perception ability was fully active, and he could detect every emotional fluctuation within a fifty-meter radius.
"Stop." He suddenly raised his hand, and the team immediately crouched behind a thicket.
Thirty meters ahead, a three-person team from Class A was resting in a clearing. Their leader was Katsuragi Kohei. Caution was written all over his square face as he studied a map with two teammates.
[Fatigue from Class A members +30]
[Wariness from Katsuragi Kohei +50]
Tang Yu carefully studied Class A's equipment. They had professional climbing ropes and binoculars, clearly heading for the mission point at Central Hill too.
"What do we do? Should we go around?" Sudō whispered.
Tang Yu shook his head, the corners of his mouth lifting. "No. Let's play a little game with them."
He signaled for the team to fall back, then took several brightly colored pieces of cloth and a long rope from his backpack. Horikita immediately understood his intention. "A decoy trap?"
"Exactly." Tang Yu quickly set it up. "Sudō, take this and circle around in front of them. Make some noise. Remember, don't let them see you."
Sudō didn't understand what was going on, but he accepted the simple noise-making device Tang Yu handed him-a few empty cans strung together with rope-and quietly crept ahead.
Five minutes later, a sudden clatter shattered the forest's silence. The Class A team immediately went on alert.
"What was that?" Katsuragi stood up and warily looked around.
"Maybe an animal..." one of the team members said uncertainly.
Just then, Tang Yu tugged on the rope. The brightly colored cloth they had set up flashed past in the bushes to Class A's left.
"Someone's over there!" a Class A student shouted.
Katsuragi hesitated for a second, then made his decision. "Go after them! But be careful-it could be a diversion."
Once the three Class A students had chased after the false target, Tang Yu's team quickly crossed the clearing and continued toward the hill.
"That was amazing!" one of the boys said admiringly. "How did you know they'd chase it?"
Tang Yu quickened his pace. "Katsuragi is cautious, but being too cautious can become a weakness. He'd rather waste time checking out a false target than risk ignoring a possible threat."
Horikita gave Tang Yu a thoughtful look. "You know the leaders of the other classes well."
"It's just basic homework," Tang Yu replied casually, secretly pleased. His little trick had not only shaken off Class A, but also earned him the team members' admiration and Emotion Points.
As they climbed higher, the vegetation gradually thinned, and the terrain grew steeper. Tang Yu signaled for the team to slow down and stay alert for a possible ambush.
"Look, the summit!" Sudō pointed up.
Through gaps in the treetops, they could see a flag standing on the summit platform, with a metal box beside it-the mission point.
Just as the team was preparing to make the final push, Tang Yu's Emotion Perception suddenly picked up a surge of intense malice. He abruptly grabbed Sudō, who was in the lead. "Stop!"
Almost at the same moment, a fist-sized rock flew down from above, grazed Sudō's nose, and hit the ground.
"Not bad, Class D losers." A cocky voice came from above.
Ryuen Kakeru emerged from behind a rock with four Class C students, looking down at Tang Yu's team from above. They held all kinds of "weapons"-sharpened sticks, nets filled with rocks, and even a homemade slingshot.
[Pride from Ryuen Kakeru +120]
[Attack intent from Class C members +200]
"I knew you'd come, Chinese Kid." Ryuen grinned, showing animal-like canine teeth. "Too bad we've already taken the summit."
"Taken it?" Tang Yu laughed deliberately. "You call this taking it?"
Ryuen furrowed his brow. "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at how stupid you are." Tang Yu stepped forward, his voice full of confidence. "You think the School Administration would let students get hurt during an exam? Look around you."
The Class C students instinctively looked around. Tang Yu took the chance to keep up the pressure. "There are at least three hidden cameras on this hill. Everything you do is being recorded.
"Using weapons to attack other students? That would be enough to wipe out all of Class C's Class Points."
[Hesitation from Class C members +150]
Ryuen's expression darkened. "Bluffing! Even if there are cameras, 'accidents' are bound to happen in the wilderness."
"Is that so?" Tang Yu pulled out his phone. Its screen showed a video-the rock flying toward Sudō just now. "It's being sent to the cloud in real time. Amazing technology, isn't it?"
This was nothing but a bluff. There was no signal on the island. But Ryuen couldn't confirm that, and his Emotion Cloud roiled violently-anger, suspicion, and a trace of fear all mixed together.
[Turmoil from Ryuen Kakeru +180]
Tang Yu seized the opportunity to activate his newly unlocked "Emotion Resonance" ability, directly sensing the emotions deep within Ryuen.
In an instant, a torrent of wild, chaotic emotions surged into his consciousness. On the surface, there was arrogance and violence, but deep down, there was a surprising sense of inferiority and fear... Ryuen was afraid of losing control, afraid that people would see through the bluff...
The ability lasted only a few seconds, but that was enough for Tang Yu. He deactivated it and looked Ryuen in the eye. "You don't want to take that gamble, do you, Ryuen? What if this video gets to Chabashira-sensei..."
Ryuen's fists clenched with a crackle, but in the end, he let them go. "Hmph. You're lucky today. But don't think this is over." He waved to his underlings. "Let's go!"
The Class C students followed Ryuen away reluctantly. Before leaving, Ryuen glared viciously at Tang Yu. "Next time, there won't be any cameras to save you."
Only after the Class C students had completely disappeared did Sudō let out a long breath. "That was close! Did we really record a video?"
Tang Yu put away his phone. "Of course not. There's no signal on the island."
"Then why did you..." Horikita's eyes widened in surprise.
"It was just psychological warfare." Tang Yu headed toward the summit. "Ryuen is used to solving problems with violence, but that's exactly why he's more afraid of punishment under the rules. I bet he wouldn't take the risk."
[Emotion Points exceeded 10000!]
[Unlocked "Deep Emotion Resonance" ability]
[Can briefly experience the target's deep psychological state]
The notification lifted Tang Yu's spirits. The new ability could not only read surface emotions, but also briefly enter a target's deep psychological state and obtain more crucial information.
The team reached the summit without trouble. The mission box beside the flag contained seven cards, each with a set of coordinates written on it.
"What does this mean?" Sudō picked up a card and turned it over.
Horikita checked the other cards. "Seven sets of coordinates... They should be the locations of hidden supply points on the island."
Tang Yu quickly memorized all the coordinates. "These are strategic supplies, more valuable than food or tools alone. We'll take just one and put the rest back."
"Why not take them all?" Sudō asked, puzzled.
"Because that way, the other classes will keep fighting over the remaining cards and wear themselves out," Horikita explained on Tang Yu's behalf, a trace of admiration in her voice.
Tang Yu nodded and chose the card with coordinates closest to the coastline. There was a good chance it marked the location of a lifeboat or communications equipment, making it the most strategically valuable.